How Much Does Ivy Removal Cost by Type?

Enjoying your yard can be difficult when you've got poison ivy lurking nearby. If you've been thinking about removing these pretty-but-poisonous plants, it's important to understand what the job entails so you can budget for the project. Treating a smaller area with herbicide can cost as little as $300, but if you have extensive growth onto fences and up trees, you could pay $850 or more to get rid of it.

Ivy Removal Cost Breakdown

The cost to remove ivy mostly depends on the treatment method and project scope, but you should also account for the cost of estimates and debris removal.

Estimates

Because every poison ivy removal job is different, some professionals may insist on a site visit so that they may complete a comprehensive cost estimate. This involves walking your property, identifying problem areas, and determining a treatment plan. 

Expect to pay $75 per hour for this quote, with a two-hour minimum. If you accept the quote, your technician may apply what you paid for your estimate toward the project cost.

Project Scope

The extent of your ivy growth plays a big role in how much you'll pay to have a professional remove it. The more ivy you have directly relates to the amount of chemicals and/or time a tech will need to address the issue. 

The location of the ivy also impacts removal costs. For example, isolated spots of ivy throughout your yard are easier to treat than large areas that have spread as ground cover. Likewise, ivy that's spread to a nearby fence is more expensive to treat than that on the ground, but ivy that's winding up a tree will be even pricier to treat.

For ground-level ivy, expect to pay $50 to $75 per hour for eradication. For ivy that's growing on trees, you'll generally pay $100 per hour or more because a local tree service or similar technicians will need ladders to reach the high-reaching vines.

Debris Removal

If you choose a treatment method that involves physical removal of the ivy, you may be assessed additional fees for the bagging and disposal of the refuse. You'll typically pay $25 per 10-pound bag or $100 per cubic yard.

Once uprooted, you’ll also need to dispose of ivy at the proper facility either on your own or by hiring a local junk removal service. Composting is one DIY way to get rid of ivy leftovers but it’s not so straightforward, as the plant can easily regrow even in such conditions. It may also not be accepted with your usual trash for that very reason. 

Instead, the best way to remove yard waste like this is to arrange a pick up with a yard cleanup service—who will load, transport, and drop it off at the correct recycling center—or rent a dumpster to drop it off yourself. The former is a good pick if you need to get rid of ivy ASAP, but you may prefer the latter if you need a timeline with more flexibility. You’ll pay between $60 and $600 to hire a junk removal company, and between $290 and $480 for a dumpster rental. 

Ivy Removal Cost by Type

There are two types of ivy: non-climbing ivy and climbing ivy. How much it costs to remove ivy on your property will depend on the type of plant, how much area it's covering, and the removal method you choose.

Non-Climbing Ivy

Non-climbing ivy describes plants that grow close to the ground. They generally take the shape of bushes and shrubs rather than vines, with poison oak and poison sumac being common varieties. 

Between the two types of ivies, this kind is typically easier to remove because there's no need for climbing ladders. The cost for removing non-climbing ivy typically ranges from $300 for treatment with insecticide to $500 for manual extraction.

Climbing Ivy

Climbing ivy can spread low throughout your yard, but it can also wind its way up fences, poles, and trees. They usually present as vines, like English ivy and poison ivy. 

Removing climbing ivy tends to be a tougher job due to the way the plant entangles itself on nearby structures and climbs. Depending on how long the ivy has been allowed to grow, removal may require a ladder. The average cost to remove climbing ivy ranges from $500 to $850. 

Ivy Removal Cost per Hour

Professionals typically charge $50 to $75 per hour to remove ivy. This cost can go up to $100 per hour or more if the job requires climbing, such as removing ivy from a tree.

The total cost of your project will depend on the type of ivy, how far it has spread, and the treatment method you choose. The most affordable and quickest treatment option is herbicide spray, while the most expensive and effective is manual removal. 

The former may take up to three hours, while the latter can take much more depending on the extent of the plant's growth.

Ivy Removal Cost by Treatment Method 

The three treatment methods most poison ivy removal companies will offer include herbicide spraying, manual removal, and a combination of the two.

Herbicide

When you choose this method, a local landscaper or other professional will apply a strong herbicide to the ivy. Over the course of several days and weeks, the herbicide will poison the plant and kill off its growth.

This option is generally the most affordable, but it does come with some drawbacks. Herbicides may not completely kill the ivy plant at the root, so there's a possibility that it will grow back. The herbicide can also be dangerous to humans, animals, and other plants.

Manual Removal

Manual removal is generally the most expensive and labor-intensive treatment option. With this method, a professional removes the ivy by hand, typically by digging it up to better guarantee removal of the roots.

Many go for this option if they’re trying to avoid using harsh chemicals on their lawn, but it usually takes quite a bit of time and muscle.

Combination

A middle-of-the-road option in terms of cost and effort involves using both herbicide and manual removal. In these cases, a technician first treats the ivy with an herbicide. When the plant dies, the tech returns to remove debris by hand. This does require some work, but it's typically easier to remove dead poison ivy plants than live ones.

Cost to Remove Ivy Yourself

If you decide to tackle the job of removing ivy yourself, you'll likely go the manual removal route, as the majority of herbicides available to the public just aren't potent enough to kill off ivy. Even the heavy-duty stuff used by the pros doesn't do the job every time. Therefore, your monetary expenses will be minimal. 

You will, however, need protective gear in the form of rubber gloves and an N95 particle mask, which you can acquire for around $20. Also, if your local waste collection won't take the ivy, you'll need to pay to dispose of it at around $25 per 10-pound bag. 

If you decide to try treatment, you'll require a sprayer which costs between $10 and $100, depending on style and size. You'll also need to pay for the vinegar or weed killer, both priced at around $20 per gallon.

Removing Ivy Yourself vs. Hiring a Contractor 

Removing ivy may seem like a simple job. Even when you choose the more difficult method of manual eradication, it's just like pulling weeds, right? Unfortunately, it's not that easy. 

Ivy tends to be incredibly resilient. It can grow quickly and densely, rapidly spreading through your yard and up fence posts, trees, and other structures. Removing the foliage is typically not enough to eradicate it; if any roots are left behind, it will just grow back.

Worse, common types of invading ivies can actually be hazardous to your health. Poison ivy, poison sumac, English ivy, and other varieties contain an oil throughout the plant called urushiol. 

Depending on your sensitivity to urushiol, contact with this oil can cause uncomfortable itching and swelling to life-threatening anaphylaxis, so you'll need to take lots of precautions.

Once you've bagged up the ivy, you may have to pay to dump it, depending on whether your local trash service will take it. You can't leave it in your yard because it may take root and regrow, and you can't burn it because inhalation of the urushiol oil can cause severe irritation of the nasal passages and digestive system.

If you only have a small patch of poison ivy to remove, it may be easy enough to do the job yourself. However, large expanses are riskier due to the likelihood of allergic exposure and possible perils of climbing up trees and buildings. In these cases, you'll enjoy better, safer results when you hire a professional to tackle the job.

Tips to Reduce Poison Ivy Removal Costs

The easiest way to save money on poison ivy removal costs is to not let the problem get out of control. As soon as you notice ivy, take steps to eradicate it, either yourself or with the help of a professional. The smaller the area that has to be treated, the less you'll pay.

If you're already dealing with extensive ivy, the most affordable way to treat it is through herbicide spraying. Once the ivy plant is dead, you can save further by disposing of the refuse yourself. However, remember that caustic urushiol oil remains even in dead leaves, stems, and roots, so you'll need to take great care when handling debris.